Alert archive / Virginia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Wakefield, VA

July 1, 1990Gloucester County, Mathews County, Virginia

NWS Wakefield, VA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 1, 1990, 5:01 PM EDT for Gloucester County, Mathews County, Virginia. It was in force for 59 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 1, 1990, 5:01 PM EDT (21:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 1, 1990, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
59 min
Issued by
NWS Wakefield, VA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Gloucester County, VA, Mathews County, VA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Wallops Is Stn, VA (KWAL), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 105 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-07-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 6 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Wallops Is Stn, VA at 12:00Z on 1990-07-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 113 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
6 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-325 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1439 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
147 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KORF 012101
SVRORF
VAC073-115-119-012200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
501 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 PM EDT FOR 
PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES

   IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA
      GLOUCESTER...MATHEWS...MIDDLESEX

...THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS FOR THE
COUNTIES JUST MENTIONED

RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER THE NORTHWEST
PORTION OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. THIS STORM IS MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 30 TO 35 MPH. RESIDENTS OF THE WARNED COUNTIES SHOULD
BE ALERT TO THESE APPROACHING STORMS AND TAKE SHELTER IF
THREATENING CONDITIONS ARE SIGHTED.

THERE IS FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS
WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

PLEASE REPORT ALL SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO PASS THE REPORT ALONG TO A WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE.

 RITTER

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
VAZ010-013-018-011900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
225 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 1990

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF VIRGINIA UNTIL
9PM EDT THIS SUNDAY EVENING.

AT 220 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHERN PORTION OF FLUVANNA COUNTY EXTENDING
EAST ACROSS LOUISA COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
AROUND 30 MPH. ANOTHER LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO
NORTHWEST PORTION OF HIGHLAND COUNTY.

THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE STATE OF VIRGINIA
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
BE SEVERE PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND DAMAGI.NG
WINDS.

GCW
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 3:36 PM EDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
VAZ001>004-012030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
330    PM EDT SUN  JUL  1  1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 900PM...
AT 330 PM THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTHERN SUFFOLK
SOUTHWEST TO FRANKLIN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH AND ARE LIKELY PRODUCING
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN
SUFFOLK AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.

RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS CITIES SHOULD BE ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR THESE APPROACHING STORMS.

A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER BAY SOUTH
OF POINT LOOKOUT AND FOR THE COASTAL WATERS FROM PARRAMORE ISLAND
SOUTH TO THE NORTH CAROLINA BORDER UNTIL 5PM.
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING SOUTHEAST THORUGH
NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND WILL BE MOVING INTO WESTERN PORTIONS
OF THE NORTHERN NECK BETWEEN 4 AND 5 PM. RESIDENTS OF THAT
AREA SHOULD BE ALERT TO THELSE APPROACHING STORMS.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO...TELEVISION AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO
FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
RITTER
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 4:01 PM EDT, 1 hour before
VAZ013-018-011900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
300 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 1990

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF VIRGINIA UNTIL
9PM EDT THIS SUNDAY EVENING.

AT 255 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED AN AREA
OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WESTERN PORTION OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY EXTENDING
EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIP OF LOUISA COUNTY AND THE SOUTHWEST PORTION
OF HANOVER COUNTY. THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER
THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF HANOVER COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE
SOUTHEAST AROUND 30 MPH. THE CURRENT MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS WILL
CARRY THEM INTO THE VICINITY OF KINGS DOMINION SHORTLY. ANOTHER STORM
WAS LOCAT{ED OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF HIGHLAND COUNTY.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY
LIGHTNING STRIKES AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL.{{}GCW
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 4:03 PM EDT, 58 minutes before
VAZ013-018-011900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION FOR TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RICHMOND VA
400 PM EDT SUN JUL 1 1990

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF VIRGINIA UNTIL
9PM EDT THIS SUNDAY EVENING.

AT 355 PM EDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED AN AREA
OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WESTERN PORTION OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY EXTENDING
EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIP OF LOUISA COUNTY AND THE SOUTHWEST PORTION
OF HANOVER COUNTY. THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER
THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF HANOVER COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING TO THE
SOUTHEAST AROUND 30 MPH. THE CURRENT MOVEMENT OF THESE STORMS WILL
CARRY THEM INTO THE VICINITY OF KINGS DOMINION SHORTLY. ANOTHER STORM
WAS LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF HIGHLAND COUNTY.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY
LIGHTNING STRIKES AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL.{{}GCW|
Local storm report, Jul 1, 4:46 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK  VIRGINIA
445  PM EDT SUN JUL 01 1990

TIME           EVENT

345  PM EDT    1 INCH HAIL 4 WEST OF DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK

3:50 PM EDT    2 1/2 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO SPOTTER
               IN THE DRIVER SECTION OF SUFFOLK.

3:50 PM EDT    QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE AT INTERSTATE
               64 ROUTE 17 INTERSECTION..AMATEUR RADIO SPOTTER
Special weather statement, Jul 1, 4:51 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
VAZ001>004-012200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORFOLK VA
445    PM EDT SUN  JUL  1  1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 900PM FOR ALL OF
EASTERN VIRGINIA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS CITIES
HAS EXPIRED AT 445PM. THE SPECIAL MARINE WARNING FOR THE LOWER
CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NEW POINT LOOKOUT AND FOR THE COASTAL
WATERS FROM PARRAMORE ISLAND SOUTH WILL EXPIRE AT 500PM.

A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE CHESAPEAKE
BAY FROM SMITH POINT SOUTH TO NEW POINT COMFOR UNTIL 600 PM.

THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT FORMED OVER EXTREME SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA
HAVE MOVED INTO NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. THE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED
HAIL UP TO 2 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER NEAR DRIVER IN SUFFOLK.

THE NEXT AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM THE EASTERN SHORE
OF MARYLAND SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE NORTHERN NECK TO NEAR RICHMOND.
THIS LINE IS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH.

A REPORT FROM THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IN RICHMOND COUNTY INDICATED
STRONG WINDS AND VERY FREQUENT LIGHTNING BUT NO DAMAGE AT THIS
TIME.

RESIDENTS OF THE NORTHERN NECK AND MIDDLE PENISULA COUNTIES SHOULD
BE ALERT TO THESE APPPROACHING STORMS. THEY WILL LIKELY PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.
RITTER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wakefield, VA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 30, 8:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQGoochland69 min
Jul 1, 5:46 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQNottoway, Prince Edward44 min
Jul 1, 3:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach63 min
Jul 1, 3:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Suffolk63 min
Jul 1, 4:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQHanover, Henrico54 min
Jul 1, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCharles City66 min
Jul 1, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQPowhatan66 min
Jul 1, 4:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQAlleghany66 min
Jul 1, 5:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQMiddlesex59 min
Jul 1, 5:02 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBuckingham, Fluvanna, Goochland43 min
Jul 1, 5:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQChesterfield46 min
Jul 1, 6:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach55 min
Jul 1, 6:43 PM EDTTornado WarningAKQCity of Virginia Beach32 min
Jul 1, 6:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQCity of Chesapeake, City of Virginia Beach35 min
Jul 1, 7:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningAKQBrunswick62 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Virginia, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.